New measles exposure alert issued by public health

Measles case in Grey Bruce county reported in a clinic by Grey Bruce Public Health unit.

A new measles alert has been issued by the Grey Bruce Public Health (GBPH) team.

Visitors to the South East Grey Community Health Centre on Tuesday, April 29 between 2:25 and 3 p.m. may have been exposed to the measles.

Anyone who was present at this location during the exposure window should do the following:

• Confirm vaccination status. Ensure everyone in the family is up to date on measles vaccination. As a rule, people born before 1970 are considered immune against measles.
• Two doses of a measles-containing vaccine (MMR or MMRV) are recommended for anyone born after 1970. If unsure of vaccination status, people should check with their healthcare provider.
• If not protected against measles, people are encourages to contact their healthcare provider or Grey Bruce Public Health to receive post-exposure treatment.
• If it has been six days or less since exposure, or to receive a measles-containing vaccine for lifelong protection.
• Monitor for measles symptoms, which generally start seven to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms can include high fever, cold-like symptoms (cough/runny nose), sore eyes, and sensitivity to light. About three to seven days after symptoms begin, a rash typically appears. The rash looks like red spots and blotchy patches that start on the face then spread down the body, arms and legs.
• If someone develops measles symptoms, they should immediately isolate at home and call a healthcare provider. Household members who are not immune to measles should also stay home during this period and consult with public health. If medical care is required, call ahead to a healthcare facility before arriving in-person, so the facility can take precautions to prevent the virus from spreading to others.

GBPH conducts contact tracing upon notification of probable or confirmed measles cases in Grey-Bruce. If the health unit cannot reach everyone who was exposed to measles during a contact-tracing investigation, it will notify the public of potential community exposure locations.

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The health unit says vaccination is the best defence against measles, which is a highly contagious respiratory virus. One dose of a measles-containing vaccine is about 85% to 95% effective at preventing measles. With two doses, efficacy rises to nearly 100%.

Grey Bruce Public Health has a dedicated measles webpage. It includes information on measles-containing vaccines,vaccinations, along with a list of local measles exposure locations, and additional information on the measles virus, including symptoms and the virus’s infectious period.